Door guide



Jan. 21, 1964 R. E. FoLTz DOOR GUIDE:

Filed March 1o, 1961 VEZT RZI i,

United States Patent Oilice lldt'i@ Patented Jan. 2l, lgi

3,118,169 Dill GUIDE Rober E. Foltz, Sterling, lli., assigner to Lawrence Brothers, ine., Sterling, lll., a corporation oi Iliinois Filed Mar. 10, i951, er. No. 94,341 Claims. (Ci. 16-90) This invention relates generally to builders hardware and more particularly to guides for by-passing doors.

ln by-passing door installations, it is general practice to direct the movement of the lower edges of adjacent doors with a guide. One common form of door guide includes a plate and upstanding anti-friction guide members; and the guide members are usually assembled to the plate by entering appropriate apertures in the plate from beneath, the upward passage of the guide members being arrested by a radially extending ilange formed thereon. However, much wall-to-wall carpeting is modernly arranged to extend into closets and other rooms closed oti by the use of by-passing doors. Accordingly, the door guide in such installations must be positioned overlying the carpeting; and since the carpeting does not present a solid support for the guide members, accidental stepping on the guide member can dislodge it from the plate. Any resulting canting of the guide member frustrates proper movement of the doors, and actual jamming of a door can occur.

Therefore, an important object of the present invention is to provide a door guide which surmounts the foregoing problem.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved door guide.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door guide in which the guide members are axially locked in position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a door guide in which guide members are easily and positively assembled to the base plate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable door guide that can be successfully mounted over compressible floor coverings.

Additional objects and features of the invention pertain to the particular structure, materials and arrangements whereby the above objects are attained.

A structure in accord with the invention includes a base plate having a central, circular aperture and a slot extending radially outwardly from the edge ot the aperture; and an anti-friction member having a shoulder portion for abutting the upper surface of the plate, a bushing portion slidably and rotatably receivable in the aperture and a lug radia 'ng from the bushing portion spaced apart from the shoulder portion and adapted to pass freely through the slot when the bushing portion is aligned over the aperture and when the lug is aligned with tne slot, sliding of the bushing portion into the aperture and rotation of the anti-friction member relative to the plate locking the mem er against axial movement.

Th invention, both to its structure and mode of operation, will be better understood by reference to the following disclosure and drawing forming a part thereof, wherein:

FlG. l is a perspective View of a portion of a by-passing door installation incorporating a door guide constructed in compliance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged View taken through the section 2 2 of FIG. l;

FlG. 3 is an enlarged view of the door guide or FIG.

1, showing the. door guide in a partially disassembled state;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the positioning of one of the arms on the base element;

FIG. 5 is a perspective View of one of the arms with the corresponding guide-tip element removed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, s'ide elevational View in cross section showing the cooperation of the center post and the base plate;

FlG. 7 is a perspective view of a modied guide plate constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged View taken through the section 8 8 of FIG. 7.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, specically to FIGS. l and 2, a pair of by-passing doors will be seen indicated generally by the numerals lo and 12 respectively. The doors 1i) and l2 are hung for lateral movement employing conventional devices and procedures. Since such hanger devices comprise no part of the present invention, they are not illustrated nor will they be described herein. In order to restrict the transverse movement of the bottom edges 14 and lo oi doors l@ and l2 respectively, an adjustable door guide illustrated generally at 1S is positioned in contact with carpeting 2S overlying a iloor surface 2l as is shown in FIG. 2.

Continuing with general reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and with particular reference to FIG. 3, the adjustable door guide 1S will be seen to include a base plate or element 22, a central post 24 and a pair or arms 26, each arm 26 having a guide-tip element 23 iixed upstandingly to one end. The oase element 22 includes an elongated plate portion 30 which is advantageously spaced above and between a pair of dependingly ofi-set floor-engaging flange portions 32, flange portions 32 being integral with the plate portion 3i). Base element 22 is arranged to be relatively rigid and, as a consequence, is desirably fabricated from a suitable sheet metal.

An aperture 34 of generally circular shape is centrally formed in plate 36 for purposes of securely mounting the post 24 to the base element 22; and in accordance with a feature of the present invention, two slots 36 extend radially outwardly from the edge of aperture 34. VJhile a single slot 36 may be employed, two or more of the slots arcuately spaced apart are preferred; and in accordance with the showing in the drawing, two slots 36 may be advantageously situated across a diameter of the aperture 34.

The post 24 is appropriately arranged to cooperate with aperture 3d and with slots 36. Therefore and as is well shown in FlG. 6, post 24 is provided with an annular shoulder portion 38 for abuttingly engaging the upper surface of plate portion 3d. The post 24 also includes a cylindrical bushing portion 39 which is situated adjacent the shoulder portion 38 and which is slidably and rotatably receivable in the aperture 34. ln addition, the post .'24 comprises two lugs itl which radiate yfrom the bushing port-ion 39 spaced apart from the shoulder portion 313 by a distance approximating the thickness of plate portion Si?. Tne lugs are arranged to pass freely through the slots 36 and, accordingly, are disposed about the bushing portion 39 in an arcuate spacing corresponding to the arcuate spacing of the slots 35.

The post 24 is readily assembled to the base element Z2 by aligning the bushing portion 39 over the aperture 351- =and by aligning the lugs it with the slots 36. Subsequently, a sliding of the bushing portion 39 into the aperture 3d eventually results in the shoulder portion 38 engaging the plate portion 39 of base element 22. rlhereupon, rotation of the post 24 relative to the base element 2,2 turns the lugs ill out of alignment with the slots 36; and .the post 24 is effectively locked to the base element 22 by the edges of aperture 34 being constrained between the shoulder portion 33 and the lugs 4, as is well shown in FIG. 6. lt is important to note that, in this position, axial movement of the post 2d is positively blocked in either vertical direction. Accidental stepping on the post 2d cannot therefore dislodge the post from the base element or permit canting thereof.

Post Z4 is desirably arranged to be hollow, as is shown in FIG. 6, and is furthermore intended to present an antifriction surface to confronting portions of doors l@ and l2. Hence, post 2d is desirably fabricated from a material of low frictional coefficient, polyamide type molding resins having proved useful in this regard.

Returning to FIG. 3, the plate portion 39 will be seen provided with four sets of lateral slots, each set comprising two pairs of slots, one pair of each set being disposed on each side of the apertur *34 along the elongated dimension of plate portion 3d'. As will become apparent, each set of slots is arranged to provide a desired spacing of the guide-tip elements 213 from post 2d, specifically a spacing that is proper for a given standard door thickness. Accordingly, the extremely positioned set of slots, slots 4d, is adapted to provide proper spacing for doors of lSt inch thickness. The next set of slots proceeding inwardly toward the center post, slots 416, is arranged to provide proper spacing for 1% inch doors. The subsequent set of slots, slots 4S, is adapted to accommodate l1/a inch thickness doors; and the set of lateral slots nearest the center post, slots Sil, is adapted to provide proper guide spacing for doors inch thick. As will be recognized, doors having other thichnesses can be similarly accommodated by the provision of other, suitably positioned slots.

Turning to HG. 5, an arm 26l will be seen to comprise a plate 52. terminating in a perpendicularly disposed blade 5d at one end and terminating in a pair of spaced tongues 56 at the other end. Tongues 56 advantageously project from plate SZ in dependingly offset relationship. This arrangement allows the tips of tongues 56 to be situated beneath the plate .portion 3d while plate 52 itself over-lies the plate portion S-l after the tongues have been inserted through an appropriate set of the lateral slots in plate portion 3d. `lt is also important to point out that, when plate 52 overlies plate portion 36 in juxtaposition thereto and when tongues 56 have been inserted through an appropriate set of slots to be situated beneath the plate portion Si?, arm -26 is effectively locked to the base element 22. -For facility in their manufacture and in order to provide a strong relatively rigid part, arms 26 are desirably fabricated from a suitable sheet metal.

With reference to FIG. 4, the blade 54 of an arm 26 is employed in fixing a guide-tip element 28 to the arm 26. The blade 54 may enter and Ifrictionally engage a cooperatively shaped slot 5S formed in the element 2S, or it may have the element 28 molded about it.

Each of the guide-tip elements 28 includes a guidetip proper 64 and a projection 66 which extend axially beyond the arm to depend a toe 68 generally beneath the plane defined by the plateSZ. This is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Furthermore, the toe 68 is arranged to depend sufficiently below plate SZ to engage the carpeting Ztl or the floor surface Eil if no carpeting is provided. FIG. 2 shows the former arrangement with the plate 52 usefully overlying the plate portion Si). ln addition, each f guide-tip element Z is adapted to be fastened in 1a fixed position; and for this purpose, the projection 66 is provided with a verticalbore '7% which advantageously passes Y the'shank of a suitable fastener, such as wood screw 72.

Moreover and with reference to FlG. 3, the opposite ends of Vplate portion are desirably fashioned with relieved portions or recesses 74, the recesses 74 being adapted 4 to pass the toes 68 when tongues 56 are disposed in the innermost set of slots, slots S0.

As is shown in FlG. 2, when the guide-tip elements Z8 are assembled to the arms 26 and :when the arms 25 are assembled to the plate portion Sil, the elements 2S cooperate with the post 24 in defining guide paths for the doors lil and l2. Accordingly, the guide-tip elements 2% me fashioned to present anti-friction surfaces to adjacently positioned portions of the doors. Fabrication of the guide-tip elements from polyamide type mold-l ing resins has proved useful in this regard. Y

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, it is important now to state how the illustrated con'- struction operates. After the two doors lll and 12 have been hung in compliance with the customary procedures employed for by-passing doors and after the post 24:1' has been assembled to the base element 22 as hereinabove described, the base element will be positioned overlying the carpeting 2d in the path of movement of the doors lil and l2. As will be recognized, in the absence of carpeting 2li, the base element 22 may be positioned directly on the lioor surface 21.

With the base element 22 positioned beneath the bottom edges i4 and 1d of doors lil and 12 transverselythereof, there should be suiiicient clearance between the plate portion 3? and the bottom edges ld and lo adequately to accommodate the presence of the plates 52 of arms 26. if this relationship does not exist, of course, the door hangers will have to be readjusted to ensure proper clearance, taking into consideration the compresd sibility of the carpeting 29.

When proper spacing exists beneath the bottom edges of the doors, the base element Z2 will be positioned beneath the doors overlying the carpeting 20 in readiness to be aiiixed in position. Before the door guide is fastened, the two arms 26 will be appropriately positioned on plate portion 311i; and the mechanic installin y the guide 13, given knowledge of the thickness of the doors l@ and 12, will be able to select the proper set of slots into which the tongues 56 of the arms 25 are to be inserted.

In FIG. 4, the tongues 56 of an arm 26 are shown entering slots fig to cooperate with ll/s inch doors. The tongues 55 are first urged into the slots from a generally vertical direction until the end of plate 52 abuts the upper surface of plate portion Sti. Thereafter, the arm 26 with the guide-tip element 28 affixed thereto will be swung in the direction indicated by arrow 76 until the toe confronts the carpeting 2t? and plate 52 abuts the plate portion 343.

With the door guide l properly positioned beneath the edges ld and i6 of doors i@ and l2, screws 72 will be passed through the apertures 7%, urged through the carpeting il and into threaded engagement with the door surface 2l. Because of the positively positioned arrangement established between base element Z2 and the arms 26, achieved by virtue of the Vlocking relationship of tongues 55, plate 52 and the corresponding slots in plate portion Sti, screws 72 not only secure the guide-tip element 23 to the licor but also fasten the base element 22 thereto and thereby the entire door guide.

As will become apparent, the two screws 72 are readily accessible by virtue of their disposition exclusively out-1 side of the guide paths of doors 10 and 12. It is also;V

important to point out that, according to the features of the invention, no fasteners are required beneath or between the doors l@ and l2 where access with a screwdriver or other tool might be diiiicult.

Turning now to FlGS. 7 and 8, a modified form of the invention will be seen to comprise a base plate Si? having three circular apertures d2, 8d and 86 spaced along its longitudinal dimension. The circular apertures S2, 84 and Se are spaced apart a selected distance to provide proper guidance for two by-passing doors. Furthermore, the apertures S2, @d and S15 have lateral slots S3 extending radially outwardly from the edges from the apertures. Advantageously, the apertures and their corresponding slots are fashioned in raised portions or bosses 90 formed in the base plate t).

A complete door guide is formed from the base plate Si) by assembling three guide posts 92 to the plate S0, one post bein7 assembled at each of the apertures 82, 84 and 86. The guide posts 92 may take similar shape and form as shown. Alternatively, the center guide posts may take generdly circular transverse section whereas the end guide posts may take generally elliptical transverse section.

As is shown in FIG. 8, a guide post 92 includes an annular shoulder portion 94 which is adapted to engage the upper surface of a boss 9). The guide post 92 also includes a cylindrical bushing portion 96 situated adjacent the shoulder portion 94. ln similar manner to the construction of post 24, the post 92 includes lugs 98 extending radially from the bushing portion 96. The lugs 9S are adapted to pass through the slots S8 and to confine portions of the boss 9@ against the shoulder portion 94 upon rotation of the post 92. As will be recognized, assembly and function of a post 92 is similar to the assembly and function of the post 24.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it should be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modiiications may be made; and it is, therefore, contemplated to cover by the appended claims any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. In a guide for sliding doors, the combination comprising: a base plate adapted to be xed in position beneath the lower edges of said doors, said plate having a central aperture and a slot extending radially outwardly from the edge of said aperture; and an anti-friction member having an axially elongated post portion which denes surface means and having a shoulder portion underlying the post portion for abutting the upper surface of said plate, said member further having a bushing portion underlying said shoulder portion to be slidably and rotatably receivable in said aperture, said member additionally having a lug radiating from sm'd bushing portion spaced apart from said shoulder portion and adapted to pass freely through said slot, whereby said member is assemblable to said plate by aligning said bushing portion with said aperture and by aligning said lug with said slot, subsequent sliding of said bushing portion into said aperture and rotation of said member relative to said plate locking said member against axial movement, said post portion upstanding from said plate interjacent said doors upon assembly with said plate to Contact opposed faces of said doors sldingly with said surface means and to maintain said doors in horizontally spaced relationsmo.

2. In a guide for sliding doors, the combination comprising: a base plate adapted to be iixed in position beneath the lower edges of said doors, said plate having a central aperture and a plurality of arcuately spaced slots extending radially outwardly from the edge of said aperture; and an anti-friction member having an axially elongated post portion and a shoulder portion underlying the post portion for abutting the upper surface of said plate, said member further having a bushing portion underlying said shoulder portion to be slidably and rotatably receivable in said aperture, said member additionally having a plurality of lugs corresponding with said slots in number and arcuate spacing, said lugs radiating from said bushing portion spaced apart from said shoulder portion and adapted to pass freely through said slots, whereby said member is assemblable to said plate by aligning said bushing portion with said aperture and by aligning said lugs with said slots, subsequent sliding of said bushing portion into said aperture and rotation of said member relative to said plate locking said member against axial movement, said post portion opstanding from said plate 6 interjacent said doors upon assembly with said plate 'to contact opposed faces of said doors slidingly and to maintain said doors in horizontally spaced relationship.

3. In a guide for sliding doors, the combination comprising: a rigid plate adapted to be fixed in position beneath the lower edges of said doors, said plate having a central, circular aperture and a slot extending radially outwardly from the edge of said aperture; and an antifriction member having an axially elongated post portion and an annular shoulder portion underlying the post portion for abutting the upper surface of said plate, said member further having a bushing portion underlying said shoulder portion to be slidably and rotatably receivable in said aperture, said member additionally having a lug radiating from said bushing portion spaced apart from said shoulder portion and adapted to pass freely through said slot, whereby said member is assemblable to said plate by aligning said bushing portion with said aperture and by aligning said lug with said slot, subsequent sliding of said bushing portion into said aperture and rotation of said member relative to said plate locking said member against axial movement, said post portion upstanding from said plate interjacent said doors upon assembly with said plate to contact opposed faces of said doors slidingly and to maintain said doors in horizontally spaced relationship.

4. In a guide for sliding doors, the combination comprising: a base plate adapted to be fixed in position beneath the lower edges of said doors, said plate having a plurality of horizontally spaced apart circular apertures, each of which has a slot extending radially outwardly from the edge thereof; and an anti-friction member received in each of said apertures, each of said members having al1 axially elongated post portion which defines curved surface means and having a shoulder portion underlying the post portion for abutting the upper surface of said plate, each of said members further having a bushing portion underlying said shoulder portion to be slidably and rotatably receivable in one of said apertures, each of said members additionally having' a lug radiating from said bushing portion spaced apart from said shoulder portion and adapted to pass freely through the corresponding slot, whereby a said member is assemblable to said plate by aligning said bushing portion with a said aperture and by aligning the corresponding lug and slot, subsequent sliding of said bushing portion into said aperture and rotation of said member relative to said plate locking said member against axial movement, the post portions of said members upstanding from said plate in horizontally spaced relationship to contact vertical faces of said doors slidingly with the curved surface means thereof and to define individual guide tracks for said doors.

5. In a guide for sliding doors, the combination comprising: a base plate adapted to be xed in position beneath the lower edges of said doors, said plate having a plurality of horizontally spaced apart, circular apertures, each of which has a plurality of arcuately spaced slots extending radially outwardly from the edge thereof; and an anti-friction member received in each of said apertures, each of said anti-friction members having an axially elongated post portion and a shoulder portion underlying the post portion for abutting the upper surface of said plate, each of said members further having a bushing portion underlying said shoulder portion to be slidably and rotatably receivable in one of said apertures, each of said members additionally having a plurality of lugs corresponding in number and arcuate spacing to the slots of one of said apertures, said lugs radiating from said bushing portion spaced apart from said shoulder portion and adapted to pass freely through the slots of the corresponding aperture, whereby said members are assemblable to said plate by aligning the respective bushing portions with the respective apertures and the lugs with the corresponding slots, subsequent sliding of the bushing portions into the apertures and rotation of the members relative to the plate locking the members against axial move- 7 ment, the post portions of said members upstanding from said plate in horizontally spaced relationship to contact vertical faces of said doors slidingly and to define individual guide tracks for said doors.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,809,117 Golden Tune 9, 1931 8 2,543,540 Anderson Feb. 27, 1951 2,898,623 Johnson Aug. 11, 1959 2,939,167 Preston lune 7, 1960 3,000,046 Foltz Sept. 19, 1961 OTHER REFERENCES American Builder, July 1956, page 2 (copy in Div. 20). American Builder, August 1957, page 2 (copy in Div. 20). 

1. IN A GUIDE FOR SLIDING DOORS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A BASE PLATE ADAPTED TO BE FISEX IN POSITION BENEATH THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID DOORS, SAID PLATE HAVING A CENTRAL APERTURE AND A SLOT EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE EDGE OF SAID APERTURE; AND AN ANTI-FRICTION MEMBER HAVING AN AXIALLY ELONGATED POST PORTION WHICH DEFINES SURFACE MEANS AND HAVING A SHOULDER PORTION UNDERLYING THE POST PORTION FOR ABUTTING THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID PLATE, SAID MEMBER FURTHER HAVING A BUSHING PORTION UNDERLYING SAID SHOULDER PORTION TO BE SLIDABLY AND ROTATABLY RECEIVABLE IN SAID APERTURE, SAID MEMBER ADDITIONALLY HAVING A LUG RADIATING FROM SAID BUSHING PORTION SPACED APART FROM SAID SHOULDER PORTION AND ADAPTED TO PASS FREELY THROUGH SAID SLOT, WHEREBY SAID MEMBER IS ASSEMBLABLE TO SAID PLATE BY ALIGNING SAID BUSHING PORTION WITH SAID APERTURE AND BY ALIGNING SAID LUG WITH SAID SLOT, SUBSEQUENT SLIDING OF SAID BUSHING PORTION INTO SAID APERTURE AND ROTATION OF SAID MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID PLATE LOCKING SAID MEMBER AGAINST AXIAL MOVEMENT, SAID POST PORTION UPSTANDING FROM SAID PLATE INTERJACENT SAID DOORS UPON ASSEMBLY WITH SAID PLATE TO CONTACT OPPOSED FACES OF SAID DOORS SLIDINGLY WITH SAID SURFACE MEANS AND TO MAINTAIN SAID DOORS IN HORIZONTALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP. 